In this section, we will guide you through the process of setting up your development environment for Kotlin programming. By the end of this module, you will have a fully functional Kotlin development setup and be ready to write and run your first Kotlin program.

Kotlin runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), so you need to have the JDK installed on your system.

1. Download the JDK:

   • Go to the Oracle JDK download page.
   • Choose the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

2. Install the JDK:

   • Follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system.
   • Ensure that the JAVA_HOME environment variable is set correctly.

3. Verify the Installation:

   • Open a terminal or command prompt.
   • Type java -version and press Enter. You should see the installed JDK version.

An IDE will make your development process easier by providing tools like code completion, debugging, and project management. We recommend using IntelliJ IDEA, which has excellent support for Kotlin.

1. Download IntelliJ IDEA:

   • Go to the IntelliJ IDEA download page.
   • Choose the Community edition (free) or the Ultimate edition (paid) based on your needs.

2. Install IntelliJ IDEA:

   • Follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system.

3. Launch IntelliJ IDEA:

   • Open IntelliJ IDEA after installation.
   • You may be prompted to import settings from a previous installation. If this is your first time, choose "Do not import settings."

1. Create a New Project:

   • Open IntelliJ IDEA.
   • Click on "Create New Project."

2. Select Project Type:

   • In the "New Project" window, select "Kotlin" from the list of project types.
   • Choose "JVM | IDEA" as the project type.

3. Configure Project Settings:

   • Enter a project name and location.
   • Ensure that the JDK is set to the version you installed earlier.
   • Click "Finish" to create the project.

4. Create a Kotlin File:

   • In the Project view, right-click on the src folder.
   • Select "New" -> "Kotlin File/Class."
   • Enter a name for your Kotlin file (e.g., Main.kt).

5. Write Your First Kotlin Program:

   • Open the newly created Kotlin file.
   • Enter the following code:

6. Run the Program:
   • Right-click on the Kotlin file in the Project view.
   • Select "Run 'MainKt'".
   • You should see "Hello, Kotlin!" printed in the Run window.

If you prefer using the command line, you can also compile and run Kotlin programs without an IDE.

1. Download the Kotlin Compiler:

   • Go to the Kotlin releases page.
   • Download the latest version of the Kotlin compiler.

2. Install the Kotlin Compiler:

   • Extract the downloaded archive to a directory of your choice.
   • Add the bin directory of the extracted archive to your system's PATH environment variable.

3. Verify the Installation:

   • Open a terminal or command prompt.
   • Type kotlinc -version and press Enter. You should see the installed Kotlin compiler version.

4. Compile and Run a Kotlin Program:

   • Create a new file named Main.kt with the following content:

• Open a terminal or command prompt in the directory containing Main.kt.
• Compile the program using the command: kotlinc Main.kt -include-runtime -d Main.jar.
• Run the program using the command: java -jar Main.jar.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up your development environment for Kotlin programming. You are now ready to dive into Kotlin and start writing your own programs. In the next module, we will cover the basics of Kotlin, including variables and data types.